Joist and tile construction for floors and the like



Dec- 13, 1932 H. F. FREASE 1,891,086

` JOIST AND VTILE CONSTRUCTION FOR FLOORS AND THE LIKE Filed May 25, 1951 5 sheets-sheet l H. F. FREASE Dec. 13, 1932.

JOIST AND TILE CONSTRUCTION FOR FLOORS AND THE LIKE Filed May 23. 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 13, 1932. H, F FREASE 1,891,086

JOIST AND TILE CONSTRUCTION FOR FLOORS AND THE LIKE Filed May 23, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 gwuwnto@ attori/sugo Dec'. 13, 1932. H, FA FRL-:ASE 1,891,086

JOIST AND TILE CONSTRUCTION FOR FLOORS AND THE LIKE Filed May 25. 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 l1/wanton Y H. F. FREASE 1,891,086

JOIST AND TILE CONSTRUCTION FOR FLOORS AND THE LIKE Dec. 13, 1932.

Filed May 25. 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 v 3mm@ Hre-a 92m Patented Dec. 13, 1932 Ell FHCE

HURXTHAL F. EREASE, GF CANTON, OHIO JIST AND-TILE CCNSTRUOTION FR FLOGRS .AND TIE-IE LIKE ,Application filed May 23,

Citi

surface and a lower ceiling surface extending respeotivelyabove andbelow the upper and lower vchord members of the joists.l

In' the usual steel joist floor construction, each joist includes transversely spaced longitudinally extending upper and lower chord members, means maintaining the chord members" in proper loady sustaining Ytransversely spaced position, and end vsupports which rest upon spaced bearings such as beams. Y

AThe joists are'laterallyspaced'from each other and extend longitudinally between the bearings, andrmetal lath or sheet metal decking eXtendsacross and is supported on the upper chords of the joist's and. is covered usually. by a layer of concrete or other material for forming the upper licor surface, and in the case of oiiice buildings, public buildings, residences, or the like, metallath is usually 4suspended below the lower chords "of the joists,fand the lower metal lath'is covered with coatings of plaster or the like for forming the lower ceiling surfaces.

Such usual steel joist floor construction, f whether or not including a ceiling as aforesaid, does not satisfy the requirements of fire and heat resisting, or so-called fire-proof, construction, because load sustaining mem` bers of the joists, and the inner surfaces of 'the lath are not provided with heat and lire resisting coverings such as concrete, tile, or thev like, and may be subject to the direct action of heat or flames.

From the standpoint of erection however,

M. or,

tilearch floors.

resi. serial no. 539,545. F7.

joist iioor construction is very desirable,vbe cause the joists for. each.` floor may be, placed in position on the bearing beams of the steel or other main frame of the building .as it is M erected, and temporaryflooring may be ,laid D over the joists for use .during the further erection of the building, and for preventing workmen from falling.

W hen lire-proof construction is required however, it has heretofore beenfnecessary to use some form of solid reinforced concrete floor, arch tile floor, tile or pan and reinforced concrete beam floor, or special or plural unit tile floor. i f

All of these 'usual types of ire-proof 65 floors involve the use of concrete, grout, or mortar, and most of such-floors requirethe Iuse of separate forms or centering yupon which the concrete'is poured to make solid-f;;0 floors, or; upon whichk concrete yis combined .with tile orfpans, to-make tile-and concrete,

or pan and concrete floors,- or uponvwhich tile is laid up^w1th mortar by masons to make i Some forms ofthe special or plural unit ti-le floor eliminate 'centeringby the use of tileV having an unusual or special transverse crossse'ctiornor by the 'use 'of a pluralityof sets of ti'levunits, the unit of eachl setfhaving 5130 a transverse cross section, dilferentzfrom the other setv units. Such special tile orsets of special tile are veryvobjectionable fromthe standpoint of the tile manufacturer, because special dies are required for forming the tilef's and because it is very diliicult to maintain lan adequate supply of the special unitsr to meet the requirements of builders in various parts ofthe country. Y

From the standpoint of erection the usual" workmen available for building purposes have diiculty in properly positioning and arranging the several different shapes or units of tile in plural unit construction.

Moreover, aside from the standpoint of re-prooiirfr, all joist floor constructions commercially available prior to the present invention, have required the combination of more than two different or separate elements,

other than concrete, grout, or mortar, to provide self-sustaining structures having spaced flat floor and ceiling surfaces.

The objects of the present invention are in general to improve and reduce the cost of joist and tile construction, and specifically are as follows:

First, to provide a self-sustaining structure including spaced flat outer surfaces, and which includes, excepting concrete, grout, er other similar material when used, only two different sets of elements, namely a set of laterally spaced similar load sustaining elements, and a single set of similar surface forming elements, preferably refractory tile, the surface forming elements spanning between and being supported by the joists;

Second, to provide a self-sustaining joist and tile structure which is adapted for meeting the most rigid lire-proofing requirements, and which may be constructed at a minimum cost;

Third, to provide a joist and tile structure in which the joists support the tile, and in which the tile have a rectangular cross-section, whereby the tile may be made in any usual building tile manufacturing plant without requiring special dies;

Fourth, to provide a fire-proof joist and tile structure in which the use of concrete, grout, or similar material is optional Fifth, to provide a self-sustaining oist and tile structure adapted for supporting transverse loads, and in which all the elements including concrete, grout, or similar material when used, cooperate with `each other to attain the maximum efficiency of each separate element; that is to say the steel of the j oist is subject to a maximum tension and a minimum compression loading, the tile is subject to a maximum compression and shear loading and a minimum tension loading, and the concrete, grout or similar material when used is subject to a maximum compression and shear loading and a minimum tension loading, or if desired, the concrete may be subject to no structural loading Whatever.

Sixth, to irc/vide a joist and tile structure, in which the joist and tile elements after being properly installed, permanently position and interlock each other Without additional means, and the complete structure when used as a Hoor being adapted to resist lateral twistingof the main frame of the building, as the result of Wind pressure and the like;

Seventh, to provide a joist and tile structure particularly adapted for permitting the tained by the structures, parts, improvements, and combinations, which comprise the present invention, and Which are particularly and distinctly point-ed out and set forth in the appended claims forming part hereof. 1 In general terms the improved structures hereof may be described as including impr ved laterally spaced longitudinally extending load sustaining spanning members, and improved surface forming members or 7 blocks extending between the spanning members and forming spaced flat surfaces extending across the outer sides of the spanning members, each improved spanning member including one or more longitudinally exten\r e ing upper chord members, one or more longil tudinallj.Y extending lower chord members, and means maintaining the chord members in proper load sustaining position, each lower chord member being laterally as Well 5^ as transversely spaced from one of the upper chord members, and the improved blocks preferably comprising efractory tile, each block preferably having a rectangular transverse cross-section and extending between adjacent spanning members, and each block preferably having a notched seat formed in each of its lower end corners, whereby each end of each block is supported on one of the lower chord members of one of the spanning members, and the lower portion of each end of each block may be formed for extending beneath the chord member supporting the block and forming a concrete or grout retaining shelf, and When it is desired to elimi- 'i nate the use of concrete, grout or the like, the upper portion of each end of each block may be formed for extending over one or more of the upper chord members, and the ends of the block may be positively engaged by concrete or grout When the same is used to embed thc spanning members, and preferably the ends of the blocks abut against sides of the load sustaining members for interlocking with the load sustaining members, l?

Whether or not concrete or other embedding material is used.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, in which Figure l is a top plan view illust-rating one embodiment of the improved joist and tile floor structure, including one form-of improved lever arch joist, and one form of improved end notched tile, portions of the lfloor being illustrated finished, and other portions being illustrated during the course of construction;

Fig. 2, a sectional View thereof looking at the side of one of the joists; Fig. 3, a top plan view of another form of improved lever arch joist particularly adapted for the improved joist and tile floor structure;

Fig. 4, a side elevation thereof; 1

Fig. 5, a top plan view of a form of improved bar oist particularly adapted for the improved oist and tile floor structure;

Fig. 6, a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 7, a top plan View of another form of improved bar joist for use in the improved joist and tile floor structure;

Fig. 8, a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 9, an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view of the floor structure illustrated in Figs. land 2;

' Fig. 10, a similar view illustrating the use of the joist of Figs. 3 and 4 with tile similar to the tile of Figs. 1, 2, and 9;

Fig. 11, a similar view illustrating the use of the joist of Figs. 5 and 6 with tile similar to .the ktile of Figs. 1, 2, and 9;

Fig. 12, a similar View illustrating the use of the joist of Figs. 7 and 8 with tile similar to the Atile of Figs. 1,2, and 9;

Fig. 18, a similar-view illustrating another embodiment of the improved joist and tile structure including the joist of Figs. 3 and 4, and a second embodimentof the improve-d tile, and in which no concrete is used, and themethod of erection Vbeing indicated;

Fig. 14, a similar view illustrating another embodiment .of the improved joist and tile floor structure including the joist of Figs. 3 and 4, and a third embodiment of the improved tile, together with concrete embedding the joist and tile thetile being formed so as to eliminate the necessity kof separate forms or centering for receiving the concrete when poured;v

kFig. 15, a fragmentary isometric perspective view of the floor structure of Fig. 1; and Y Fig. 16, an isometric perspective view of one ofthe improved tile.

VSimilar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

One embodiment of the improved joist and tile floor structure is indicated generally at j F-1 in Figs. 1, 2, and 9. The fioor structure F --1 includes a plurality of laterally spaced longitudinally extending improved load sustaining -spanning members each indicated generally hyd-1, and a plurality of improved surface forming tile or blocks each indicated generally by T1, the blocks T-l extending between and bearing on adjacent spanning members J-1, and forming a spaced flat upper floor surface S-f and a spaced flat lower ceiling suface S-c extending respectively abo-ve and below the spanning members J-l. v

Each improved spanning member J-l is preferably an improved embodiment of the lever arch joists set forth in my prior United States Letters' Patent No. 1,686.910, and in my prior'applications for United States Letters Patent, Serial No. 129,424, and Serial No. 280,484.

For attaining the particular objects of the present invention, each of the'improved spanningmembers or lever arch joists indicated generally by J-1, includes triangular arch struts 2a and 2b which may be formed by diagonally severing a rectangular plate.

The struts 2a and 2b are arranged with their apexes 3a and 3b preferably abutting each other, as at 4.

A pair of laterally spaced longitudinally extending upper chord members or bars 5 and 5 are secured along the upper edges 6a and 6I) of the struts 2a and 2b, as by arc welds 7; and the bars 5 and 5 respectively are Preferably provided with terminals 5a and 52'), and 5'@ and 5'?) extending beyond the ends of the arch struts 2a and 2b.

l-leel struts 8a and 8a are secured, as by arc welds 7, on opposite sides of the base 9a of the arch strut 2a; and heel struts 8?) and 8b are secured, as by arc welds 7, on opposite sides of the base 95 of the arch strut 2b.

Each heel strut, as illustrated, is preferably a length of standard angle, and the apex o-f each angle heel strut extends transversely of its joist, and one leg of each angle heel strut abuts the side face of the arch strut .to which it is secured, and the other leg of each angle heel strut extends laterally outwardly from the side of the arch strut to which it is secured, the laterally extending legs of the angle heel struts being preferably located at the outer edges of the bases 9a and 95 of the arch struts 2a and 2b respectively.

Laterally extending tie rod spacing and anchor members 10a and 10?) are secured reystrut to which its angle heel struts are secured.

The outer end of each tie rod spacing and anchor member has formed therein a. tie rod receiving aperture 11.

Laterally spaced longitudinally extending tie rods 12 and 12 are ,eachy provided with threaded outer ends 13 each of which extends through one of the apertures 11, and a nut 14 is screwed upon each threaded tie rod end 13, and the nuts 14 react against the outer faces of the tie rod spacing and anchor members 10a and 10b, and apply suitable tension loads on the tie rods 12 and 12.

VF or resisting lateral displacement of the arch strut apexes 3a and BZ), and for resisting abnormal reverse or vibration loa-ding of the joist, a pair of longitudinally extending reinforcing angles 15 and 15 may be secured by arc welds 7 to the apexes 3a and 85 of the struts 26a and 2?), on opposite sides there of, with one leg of each angle spaced below lill() one of the chord members or bars 5 and 5' and extending laterally from the side faces of the arch struts to which particular reinforcing angle is secured.

For providing end supports for the arch joist J 1 above the laterally spaced tie rods 12 and 12', laterally spaced angle end supports 16a and 16a', and 165 and 1Gb', are secured as by arc welds 7, on opposite sides and at the upper outer corners 17a and 17 Z) of the struts 2a and 2b, respectively, and the angle end supports are transversely spaced above the tie rods 12 and 12', that is to say under the normal use of the arch oists .1 -1, the lever end supports are above the tie rods and the end supports extend longitudinally beyond the ends of the arch joists any desired di: ance coeXtenf-:ive with the terminals 5a and 5?), and a and 5'?) of the chord bars 5 and 5', and the angle end supports and the chord bar terminals are preferably secured to each other as by arc welds 'l'.

Each arch joist J-l is pendulously supported at its ends by resting the angle end supports 16a and 16a', and 165 and 165', respectively, on suitable bearings, which may be beams 18a and 186, respectively, of the main frame of a building indicated generally by 19.

For attaining the most efficient co-action between the improved joist load sustaining members J-1 and the preferred refractory tlle surface forming members T-l, each j'oist .l 1 includes tile clamping bars 20a and 20?) secured respectively as by arc welds 'T on the outer faces of the laterally extending legs of the anele heel struts 8a and 8a', and

SZ) and 8o', above the tie rod spacing and anchor members ft and 102), respectively.

The tile clamping bars a and 20?) thus secured respectively on the outer ends of the bases 9a and 9b of the arch struts 2a and 2b, co-act with the tile rl`-1, in an improved manner which will be hereinafter described in detail.

In other words each of the improved oist load sustaining members J1 includes longitudinally extending upper chord members 5 and 5', longitudinally extending lower tie rod or chord members 12 and 12', arch means maintaining the chord members in proper load sustaining position and end supports for pendulously supporting the joists.

r1he lower chord members 12 and 12' are transversely spaced below and laterally spaced at opposite sides of the upper chord members 5 and 5', and certain of the objects of the present improvements are attained by utilizing the laterally spaced lower chord members as bearings for the lower ends of the tile T-1.

The lower tie rod or chord members 12 and 12' may each in itself have a suitable crosssection for resisting deflection when the tile T-l are being placed in position, it being understood that as hereinafter set forth in detail, after the tile T-1 are placed in position the joists J-l co-act with the tile T-l under load so as to oppose transverse deflection.

As illustrated, however, a plurality of 1ongitudinally spaced closed triangular hanger frames 21 are applied around the upper chord members 5 and 5' and the lower tie rods 12 and 12', the upper chord members and the lower tie rod members being secured respectively as by welding at the apexes of the triangular hanger frame 21 which may be conveniently formed of wire.

Each of the preferred refractory tile surface forming members T-1, is preferably a hollow tile having a rectangular transverse cross-section and including normally horizontal upper and lower rectangular walls 307' and 300 whose outer surfaces respectively form the floor surface S--f and the ceiling surface S-c. Outer normally vertical longitudinally extending rectangular side walls a and 30o extend between the longitudinal side edges of the walls 30;c and 300, and a normally vertical longitudinally extending rectangular reinforcing web wall 30d may extend between the upper and lower walls 30] and 800, and when desired a normally horizontal longitudinally extending rectangular reinforcing web wall 30e may extend between the side walls 30a and 30?) and intersect the vertical web wall 30d.

At each end of each tile, an upper end supporting portion 31, including upper end por tions of the side walls 30a and 30?), and of the vertical web wall 30d, together with the upper wall 307' and the horizontal web wall 30d, extend longitudinally beyond preferably vertically olfset lower faces 32 including lower portions of the end faces of the side walls 80a and 30?), and of the vertical web wall 30d, and the end face of the bottom wall 300.

The lower longitudinally extending faces 33 of each end supporting portion 81 are formed by the lower faces of the longitudinally extending upper end portions of the side walls 30a and 305, and of the vertical web wall 30d, and are normally horizontal, and the normally horizontal faces 33 form with the normally vertical faces 32 a notched or rabbeted seat indicated generally by 34C in each lower end corner of each tile.

In other words the improved tile T-1, with the desired upper longitudinally eX- tending end supporting portion 31, at each end thereof, may be formed by notehing out each lower end corner of an ordinary green rectangular building tile during the process of manufacture, by the use of hand notehing wires, or machines, well known in the art.`

As illustrated all the outer faces of the upper and lower walls 30f and 300 and the side walls 30a and 30?) of each tile, are smooth,

ceI

and may be glazed; whereby in' certain classes of construction no further floor or ceilingiinish need be applied over the outersurfaces of the upper and lower walls SOfand 300,

wherebya glazed tile floor' and ceiling iinish isL obtained.V

lVhen desired it is obvious however that' the outer surfaces'of *the upper,- lower, and

sidewalls-of each vtile may be longitudinallyv tongued and gi'oove'd in the well known manner for receiving Afinishing concrete, plaster, grout, or the like.

In order tof-'obtain the maximumadvantagesof 'the present improvements, itis de-v `lsirable` that the overall length L of each tile be substantiallylonger than the corresponding 'dimension of tile Vused in other types of tile floor construction.'

This overalllengthL may be 18 inches, 24

inches, 86 inches or even' longer depending upon loading and'dimensional requirements.

In any eventk the greatest efli'cien'cy is obtained when the overall length L is greater -lthan the'lateral breadth Bof the tile, and

`substantially equal to the length L between the opposite'oset lower faces 32 of the lower end portions of the side walls 30a and 806, thewveb wall 30d, and the lower ceiling forming wall 300 of each tile A'IL-1.

Temporary flooring may then belaid across the arch struts 2a and 2?) of the joists, and f the tile or bloc-ks T-l may be 'laid directly from above so that each end supporting portion 3lv rests Von the adjacent tie rod 12 kor l2 Tof the 'adjacent joist, the V`length L of the upper 'wa'lflsiOf and the upper end portions ofthe side 'walls 80a and '30?) and the web wall V80d of eachA tile r1"--1 `is such that the extremities offthe end' adjacent tile carried A'by the tierods 12and `12-of any particular joist.J'-l are laterally spaced from each 'other Vandl from the upperchord bars 5 and 5. a ldistance topermitl concrete, grout,"orv

other'compression resisting, self-settin g plastic.material:v C to' be vpoured downwardly fbetween the` laterally spaced'tile endporti'ons andthe upper'chord bars' and 5` of the j oist.l

A centering plank 40 may bei supported 'or extending between and bearing on adjacent ofadjacent lower endfportions of the lower'I sus-p'endedin` abutment vwith the outer faces walls 30o, for receiving the plastic material C when itis poured, and until it is set;

Asbestfillustrated inFig".` 9,f-in the resultin g fioor-r structure F;1, vthe compression pre'-A lsisting concrete material@ completely embeds each joist, and engages with the end portions of the tile walls.

It is also to be noted that thenotched seats 34 ofthe tile interlock withthe supporting tie rods 12 and l2 of the joists J-L In the'floor 'F-l the side walls of adj acent tile abut against each other and clamping pressure is applied against the side abutting` tile T-l, due to the weight of the floor itself, and any transversev loadingv thereof, acting through the Alongitudinally spaced 'clamping bars a and 205 between which the tile 'I-1 are located. j

It will also be noted that normal transverse loadingof theiioor F-l places the concrete C under compression between the laterally eXj` tending flanges of the angleheel struts of each joist Jwl.

F rom another standpoint, in the floor F 1, each tile or block `-extends between and bears on adjacent spanning joists {Ii-Land the outer faces ofthe walls f vand 300are transversely spaced from-each other and have side edgesl abutting each other.

The fouter faces of all the upper floor walls SO/f of' the adjacent tile T-l between any" two adjacent j oi'st-s are alined` with'each other,

` and similarlythe outer faces of ally the lower ceiling walls 300 of the adjacent tile between any two ajacent joists are alined with each other, and the transversely spaced alined outer faces of the walls 30] and 300 form'with the outer faces of the concrete C the transversely spaced floor and ceiling-surfaces S'-7" and' S--0, each extending laterally and longitudinally withY respect to the spanning j oists del,

and the transversespacing betweenthe upper chord members 5 and 5 and the lower chord members l2 and l2 of the spanningjoists'is less than the transverse spacing of the surfaces S14-fand #Sa-0,` and the transversely spaced uppeiand lower chord members 5 and 5f whereby the desired floor structure having and l2 and l2 are located between the" transversely spaced surfaces S-f and fdr-c,

iio'

the transversely spaced flat floor and ceiling surfaces S47 and S40 is attained by the use of only a plurality of the joists J-fl, a plu'- iality of the unitary similar tile TF1, and" the concrete C.A n

A second embodiment of the improved j 01st and tile floor structure is indicated generally at kF2 in F ig. 10,'and includes a lplurality of laterally spaced longitudinally extending f improved load sustaining spanning members each indicated generally by J-2, and a pluspanning 1neinbersJ--2 and forming a flat upper floor surface'S-2-f and a fiat lower ceiling surface-S--2-0, the surfaces S-2`f and S-2`c being transversely spacedfrom each-other and extending respectively above and below Vthe spanningmembers J2.

The spanning members 1 2 constitute other embodiments of the lever arch i,olsts, set forth in my aforesaid prior United States Letters Patent and applications, and are fury other as at 104; and the struts 102'@ and 1025 are arranged with their apeXes 103'@ and 103'5 abutting each other as at 101', and the struts 102@ and 1025 are spaced laterally from the struts 102'@ and 1025. y

An upper chord member or bar 105 is secured along the upper edges 106@ and 1065 of the struts 102@ and 1025, as by arc welds 107; and laterally spaced from the bar 105, a chord member or bar 105' is secured along the upper edges 106'@ and 106'5 of the struts 102'@ and 1025, as by arc welds 10'?.

A channel heel strut 108@ is interposed between the bases 109@ and 100'@ of the laterally spaced arch struts 102@ and 102"@, and secured thereto as by are welds 107'; and a channel heel strut 108?) is interposed between the bases 1095 and 109'5 of the laterally spaced arch struts 1025 and 102'5 and secured thereto as by arc welds 107.

Laterally extending tie rod spacing and anchor members 110@ and 1105 are secured respectively as by arc .velds 107 on the outer faces of the channel struts 108@ and 1085 respectively at the lower ends thereof.

Each laterally extending tie rod spacing and anchor member is secured at its central portion to its channel heel strut and extends laterally from each side thereof and from the opposite sides of the arch struts spaced by the channel heel strut.

The outer end of each tie rod spacing and anchor member has formed therein a tie rod receiving aperture 111.

Laterally spaced longitudinally extending tie rods 112 and 112l are each provided with threaded outer ends 113 each of which extends through one of the apertures 111 and a nut 114 is screwed upon each tl eaded tie rod end 113 and the nuts 1111s react against the outer faces of the tie rod spacing and anchor members 110@ and 1105, and apply suitable tension loads on the tie rods 112 and 112'.

The lower tie rods or chord members 112 and 112' are transversely spaced below and laterally spaced at opposite sides of the upper laterally spaced chord members 5 and 5', and their respective arch struts.

For resisting lateral displacement of the arch strut apeXes, and for resisting abnormal rever or vibration loading of the joists .1 2 a longitudinally extending channel 115 is preferably interposed between the strut apexes 103@ and 1035, and the strut apexes 103'@ and 103'5 and secured thereto as by arc welds 107.

For providing end supports for the arch joists .le-2 above the laterally spaced tic rods 112 and 112', a preferably channel end support 110e is interposed between the upper outer corners 117@ and 117'@ of the struts 102@v Iand 102a, and secured thereto as by arc welds '107; and similarly a channel end support 1165 is interposed between the upper outer corners i175 and 1175 of the struts 1025 and 102'5 respectively, and secured thereto as by are welds 107.

The end support 116@ extends longitudinallgY beyond the arch strut bases 109@ and 109'@ and the channel end support 1165 extends longitudinally beyond the `arch strut bases 1095 and 109'5.

Each joist J-2 preferably further in cludes tile clamping bars 120@ and 1205 secured respectively by arc welds 107 on the outer faces of the channel heel struts 108@ and 1085, above the tie rod spacing and anchor members 110e 'and 1105, respectively.

A plurality of longitudinally spaced closed trapezoidal hanger frames 121 are applied about the upper chord members 105 and 105 and the lower tie rods 112 and 112', and the upper chord members and lower tie rod members are preferably secured respectively as by welding at the apexes of the trapezoidal hanger frames 121.

The preferably refractory tile or blocks T-2 are similar in form to the tile T--1, and include spaced end supporting portions 131 formed by providing notched or rabbeted seats indicated at 134 in each lower end corner of each tile.

1n erecting the door F2 the spanning joist members (1 -2' are placed in position so that their end supports 116@ and 1165 rest on spaced bearingr beams, not shown, and the joists J2 are laterally spaced from each other in a manner similar to that described for the joists J-1 of the floor F-l.

The tile T-2 are then laid in a manner similar to that described for the positioning of the blocks T-1, the principal difference between the floor F-2 and the floor F-1 arising from the use of the upper laterally spaced chord members 5 and 5 and the arch struts therefor, whereby in the floor F-2 the concrete material `C may be poured downwardly between the upper chord bars 105 and 105' of the joists, and also the ends of the tile J-2 may preferably abut directly against the sides of the adjacent arch struts for effecting an interlocking structural coaction between the joist-s J-2 and the tile T-2.

The third embodiment of the improved 3 are identical in "manner of use with the oist members J-2,

but are made as illustrated by the use of truss construction rather than arch construction.

@ne of the jeists iT-3 illustrated in defilin 5 and 6.

A fourth embodiment of the improved floor structure is indicated generally at F-l in Fig. 12, and is generally similar to the floor structure F-l, but includes the use of trussed j oists [il-1l, one of which illustrated in demitail in Figs. 7 and 8.

The fifth embodiment of the improved floor structure indicated generally at lilin 13, includes arch oists J5 which structurally similar to the arch joists J-Q, and

""ti'le orbloeks T-. each end of each of which is formed as illustrated for bearing on one of the joists J- and for extending above and below the j oists J5 thereby totally en- Iclosing the'joists between the ends of end miadjacent tiles T-. The tiles 'll-5 prefer-l ably abut each other sidewise as well as endwise, and the floor lll-5 is erected as indicated in Fig. 13 by laterally sliding each joist J-5 vinto the alined formed ends of a temporarily supported row of the tile T-5.

The vsixth embodiment of the improved floor structure indicated generally by lf-G in 14, is generally similar to the floor F-, with the exception that the joists J-t Vof the flocrF-S are connected ywith each other laterally' as by laterally extending rods ea ch end of which is connected with one of the laterally spaced arch struts of one of the joists J tl, which are structurally similar to the` joists elf-2.

The tile 'll-G of the floor F-G are each so formed that each end extends below its supporting joist J-6 forming a shelf upon which the concrete C may be poured.

I claim: 1. A structure including a plurality of laterally spaced longitudinally extending spanning members, each spanning member including transversely spaced longitudinally I chord members and means maintaining the chord members in load sustainingpositions, and plurality of blocks each extending etween and bearing en adjacent spanning members, each bloclr having trans- ''versely spacediouter faces, cach outer face of cach bloclr being alined with similarly located faces of adjacent blocks and forming transversely spaced surfaces each extending laterally and longitudinally with respect to the spanning members, the transverse spacing of the chord members of the spanning members being less than the transverse spacing of the surfaces, and the transversely spaced chord members of the spanning members being spaced surfaces.

2f. il struct-ure including a plurality of laterally spaced longitudinally extending spanning` members, each spanning member including transversely spaced longitudinally extending chord members and means maintaining the chord members in load sustaining positions, anda plurality of blocks each extending between and bearing on adjacent spanning members, each block having transversely spaced outer faces, each outer face f lbl lf 'il l' th 'l d oi eacii loci.. nai ing sic e ec ges, e sicee ges of similarly located faces of adjacent blocks extending alongside each other, and the outer faces of the adjacent blocks forming transversely spaced outer surfaces each extending laterally and longitudinally with respect to the spanning members, the transverse spacing of trie chord members of the spanning members being less than the transverse spacing:

of the surfaces, and the transversely spaced cord members of the spanning members being located between the transversely spaced surraces.

3. A structure including a plurality of 100,:

laterally spaced longitudinally kextending spanning members, each spanning member including transversely spaced longitudinally extending chord members and means maintaining the chord members in load sustaining 105 positions. and a plurality of blocks each extending between and bearing on adjacent spanning members, each block having transersely spaced outer faces, each outer face of each blocl; having side edges and end edges, 1101 the side edges and end edges of similarly located faces of adjacent blocks extending alongside each other, and the outer faces 5f tie adjacent bloc-ks forming transversely spaced outer surfaces each extending later 115r ally and longitudinally with respect to the panning members, the transverse spacing of the chord members of the spanning members being less than the transverse spacing of the surfaces, and the transversely spaced chord 1520*;

iii-embers of the spanning members being located between the transversely spaced surfaces.

fl. i structure including a, plurality o-f laterally spaced longitudinally extending spanning members, each spanning member including transversely spaced longitudinally extending chord members and means maintaining the chord members in load sustaining positions, and a plurality ofblocks each ex- 13o located between the transversely 75,

' spanning members, eacli tending between and bearing on adjacent spanning members, eacli block having transversely spaced outer faces, eacli outer face of eacli block having` side edges, tlie side 'edges of similarly located faces of adjacent blocks abutting each other, and the outer faces of tlie adjacent blocks forming transversely spaced outer surfaces each extending laterally and longitudinally with "'frespect to tbe spanning members, t ie transverse spacing of the chord members of the spanning members being less than tlie transverse spacing of tbe surfaces, and the transversely spaced cliord members of tbe spanvning members being located between the transversely spaced surfaces.

A structure including a plurality oi laterally spaced longitudinally extending spanning members, each spanning member includ- -'ing transversely spaced longitudinally exting eacli other, an 'the out faces of tlie adjacent blocks forming transversely spaced outer surfaces eacli extending laterally and longitudinally with respect to the spanning members, Ulie transversf spacing of tbe chord members of tlie spannin( members being less t-lian tlie transverse sj i the surfaces, and the transversely spac ord members o the spanning members .ig located between the transversely spaced surfaces.

A G. A structure includi I, a plurality of laterally spaced longitud ally extending spanning members, eacli a ing member including laterally spa "tudinally extending block sun mei Lbers, and a A g orrnig l plurality of blc-cli, each extending between adjacent spanning members, eacli block including spaced end portions and each block end portion bearing on tbe adjacent block supporting member oiC the adjacent spanning member, and means snaced longitudinally on some oi tlie spaf` ung members for applying clamping pressure against the blocks located between tlie clamj` lng ins.

7. A structure including a plurality of laterally spaced longitudinzy extending spanning members, eacli spam member including laterally spaced longituom ,a ,I block supporting members, an( l I, of bloclis eacli ext-endl g between adjacent spanning members, eacb block including spaced end portions and cacli block end portion bearing on tbe adjacent block supportinnr member or" tbe adjacent spanning member, and means spaced lon itudinally on some of the spanning members ig r applying clamping pressure against the blocks located between the clamping means, the end portions of some ol' tlie end adjacent blocks being spaced from each other laterally with respect to tlieir supporting spanning member, and compression resisting material located between the spaced end portions of the blocks, the compression resisting material embedding the supporting spanning member and engaging the end portions of the blocks.

8. A structure including a plurality of laterally spaced longitudinally extending spanning members, eacli spanning member including laterally spaced longitudinally extending lower tie rods, and a plurality of blocks each extending between adjacent spanning members, each block including spaced end portions and eacli block end portion bearing on the adjacent tie rod of the adjacent spanning member.

9. A structure including a plurality of laterally spaced longitudinally extending spanning members, each spanning member including laterally spaced longitudinally extending block supporting members, and a plurality oi' blocks eacli extending between adjacent spanning members, each block including spaced end portions and each block end portion bearing on and end abutting against the adjacent block supporting member of the adjacent spanning member, and laterally extending means connecting a block supporting member of one spanning member with tbe opposite block supporting member oi? another spanning member.

l0. A structure including a plurality of laterally spaced longitudinally extending spanning members, and a plurality of blocks each extending between adjacent spanning members, eacli block including spaced end portions and each block end portion bearing on and end abutting against the adjacent spanning members, and means spaced longitudinally on some of the spanning members for applying clamping pressure against the blocks located between the clamping means.

ll. A structure including a plurality of laterally spaced longitudinally extending spanning members, and a plurality of blocks each extending between adjacent spanning members, each block including spaced end portions and each block end portion bearing on and end abutting against the adjacent spanning members, means spaced longitudinally on some of the spanning members for applying clamping pressure against the blocks located between the clamping means, and laterally extending means connecting some of the spanning members with each other.

l2. A structure for floors and the like invindingl a plurality of laterally spaced longitu dinally extending joist members, and a plurality of tile each extending between adjacent j oist members, each tile including transversely spaced outer walls and laterally spaced side walls extending between the transversely spaced walls, each side wall including spaced end portions, and each side wall end portion having a transverse notch formed therein, and the similarly located notched side wall end portion interlocking with the adjacent j oist member.

13. A structure for floors and the like including a plurality of laterally spaced longitudinally extending joist members, and a plurality of tile each extending between adjacent j oist members, each tile including transversely spaced outer walls and a web wall extending between the transversely spaced walls, the web wall including spaced end portions, and each web wall end portion having a notch formed therein, and each notched web wall end portion interlocking with the adjacent joist member.

14. A structure for floors and the like including a plurality of laterally spaced longitudinally extending joist members, and a plurality of tile, each tile including transversely spaced outer walls and web walls extending` between the transversely spaced walls, some of the tile walls extending between adjacent joist members, and some of the web walls including spaced end portions each terminating adjacent one of the joist members, and means supporting similarly located wall end portions on the adjacent oist member.

l5. A structure Jfor floors and the like including a plurality of laterally spaced longitudinally extending j oist members, and a plurality ot tile each extending between adjacent joist members, each tile including transversely spaced outer Walls and laterally spaced side walls extending between the transversely spaced walls, each side wall including spaced end portions, and each side wall end portion having a notch formed therein, and the similary located notched side wall end portions interlocking with the adjacent joist member, some of the tile being adjacent each other endwise, and the wall end portions ot some of the end adjacent tile being spaced from each other laterally with respect to their supporting joist member, and compression resisting material located between the spaced wall end portions ot the tile, the compression resisting material embedding the supporting j oist member and engaging the wall end portions of the tile.

16. A structure tor floors and the like including a plurality of laterally spaced longitudinally extending joist members, and a plurality of tile each extending between adjacent joist members, each tile including transversely spaced outer walls and a web wall extending between the transversely spaced walls, the web wall including spaced end portions, and each web wall end portion having a notch formed therein, and each notched web wall end portion interlocking with the adjacent joist member, some of the tile being adjacent each other endwise, and the wall end portions ot some ot the end adjacent tile being spaced from each other laterally with respect to their supporting joist member, and compression resisting material located between the spaced wall end portions of the tile, the compression resisting material embedding the supporting joist member and engaging the wall end portions of the tile.

17. A structure tor floors and the like including a plurality of laterally spaced longitudinally extending oist members, and a plurality of tile, each tile including transversely spaced outer walls and one or more web falls extending between the transversely spaced walls, one or more of the tile walls eX- tending between adjacent oist members, and one or more of the tile walls including spaced end portions each terminating adjacent one of the joist members, and means Jtor supporting one or more similarly located wall end portions on the adjacent j oist members, some of the tile beingadjacent each other endwise, and the wall end portions of some of the end adjacent tile being spaced from each other laterally with respect to their supporting j oist member, and compression resisting material located between the spaced wall end portions of the tile, the compression resisting material embedding the supporting joist member and engaging the wall end portions oia the tile.

18. A structure for floors and the like including a plurality of laterally spaced longitudinally extending oist members, and a plurality of tile, each tile including a plurality of walls extending between adjacent joist members, and one or more of the tile walls including spaced end portions each terminating adjacent one of the joist members, and means for supporting one or more similarly located wall end portions on the adjacent oist member, some of the tile being adjacent each other endwise, and the wall end portions of some of the end adjacent tile being spaced 'from each other laterally with respect to their supporting joist member, and compression resisting material located between the spaced wall end portions of the tile, the compression resisting material embedding the supporting j oist member and engaging the wall end portions of the tile.

In testimony that I claim the above, l have hereunto subscribed my name.

HURXTHAL F. FREASE. 

